Toast Remarks for Official Lunch hosted by Head of Bavarian State Chancellery, State Minister, Thomas Kreuzer

Your Excellency, State Minister Kreuzer

        I would like to express my warm appreciation to you for your hospitality in hosting this lunch, and to the Bavarian government for the excellent arrangements they have made for my visit.

        I am particularly delighted to be visiting Bavaria, which apart from being one of the most beautiful federal states in Germany, is also one of the best-known among Singaporeans. You will be pleased to know that Bayern München has many fans among Singaporeans. Singaporeans’ enthusiasm for Bavarian culture is so strong that we even have our own Oktoberfest. 

        Football and beer aside, Bavaria is well-known in Singapore because of the strength of your industries and companies, as well as your excellent universities.  I am pleased to note that economic relations between Singapore and Bavaria are very strong. 

        Bavaria is one of our most important partner-states in Germany, especially in the areas of business and trade. Over 100 Bavarian companies have chosen to set up base in Singapore. These include not only big companies such as Siemens, Infineon and BMW, but also Mittelstände (SMEs) such as Wacker-Chemie and Rohde & Schwarz, the traditional backbone of the German and Bavarian economy.

        Our education links are also deepening.  Technical University Munich has, in collaboration with Singapore universities, Nanyang Technological University and the National University of Singapore, set up its first overseas campus in Singapore, the German Institute of Science and Technology-TUM Asia.

        Our bilateral relations are clearly growing and we should build on the momentum to continue exploring more ways to deepen our ties. I would like to propose a toast to Singapore and Bavaria: may our relationship grow from strength to strength.